College basketball is officially back. It feels like the Florida Gators were just cutting down the nets, but the new season is already upon us.
Matt Cox of the Three Man Weave has you set with his three top picks for opening night, Monday, November 3, including under-the-radar mid-major spots.
Read below for college basketball best bets, including three NCAAB expert picks and predictions for opening night.
College Basketball Best Bets
| Game | Time (ET) | Pick |
|---|---|---|
  | 4 p.m. | |
  | 8:30 p.m. | |
  | 10 p.m. | |
Specific betting recommendations come from the sportsbook offering preferred odds as of writing. Always shop for the best price using our NCAAB Odds page, which automatically surfaces the best lines for every game. | ||
Northern Arizona vs. Drake
There’s nothing inspiring about Northern Arizona’s roster, which lost multiple program pillars to the portal this offseason.
That said, it’s a tall order to ask Drake to cover a double-digit spread. This is a brand new operation and the Bulldogs are still sorting out their perimeter pecking order in the wake of last season’s injury to Owen Larson.
Eric Henderson found out what a critical cog Larson was to the Jackrabbits’ success after he tore his ACL late in the season.
The key for Northern Arizona will be stopping Jalen Quinn, who looks to be the Bulldogs' top dog this season.
Northern Arizona’s revamped roster is at minimum long, especially on the wing, which arms the Lumberjacks with a multitude of options to corral Quinn.
Pick: Northern Arizona +10 (Play to +9)
South Dakota vs. Utah Tech
South Dakota was a different animal at home last season, especially against middling-to-low-tier competition.
The Coyotes will instill their frenetic pressure once again this season — head coach Eric Peterson is devoutly committed to the blueprint that lifted South Dakota to a respectable bounce-back campaign in 2024-25.
One could counter with the fact that Utah Tech — specifically head coach Jon Judkins — is familiar with this system after playing the Coyotes at home last season. However, the Trailblazers needed a furious rally to pull a rabbit out of their hat.
It’s hard to claim revenge is at play here, but the few remnants of last year’s roster should remember that tumultuous collapse.
There’s a chance South Dakota is down a key cog or two (per Rocco Miller, the Coyotes were banged up in last week’s scrimmage), but they're deep, a function of building a roster geared up to press.
Trust the pressure at home against a retooled backcourt facing a press that’s impossible to simulate in practice.
Pick: South Dakota -2.5 (Play to -4)
Denver vs. Seattle
This is a strict strike price, as taking the Pioneers at anything under 12 shows a marginal edge, per my projections (which are far from gospel).
Still, the Tim Bergstraser era begins with an enviable amount of continuity, as he brings multiple cornerstone pieces over from MSU Moorhead.
No, this isn't this season’s "Drake," but similar edge principles apply, especially against a Seattle team that doesn’t profile as a dominant favorite.
The Redhawks were 6-13 against the spread as a favorite last season and they return the same backcourt nucleus from a season ago.
This is a defensive-minded, gritty perimeter group, but one with major offensive limitations.
Barring a dominant frontline performance, the Redhawks should struggle to extend.
Pick: Denver +12.5 (Play to +12)
